Quick acting vise



Feb. 26, 1963 J. MALEsKo 3,079,141

QUICK ACTING vIsE Filed 'March 15, 1960 l 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENroR. JOSEPH M/IL 5K0 Feb. 26, 1963 J. MALEsKo 3,079,141

QUICK ACTING vIsE Filed March l5. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOSEPH MLESKO BY Pg/W H/S TTOENEYS sprain @11112K ACHNG WSE .loseph Maleslio, Dayton, Ghia, assigner of forty-nine percent to William Rentas, Dayton, hio Filed Mar. 15, 1961i, Ser. No. 15,143 3 llaims. (Qi. 269-482) This invention relates to an improved vise, and, in particular, to an improved vise having means for quickly clamping, or releasing an article to be held by the vise.

Generally, when a conventional vise is being used, various sized articles are desired to be subsequently held by the vise. However, since relative movement between the vise jaws is only effected by rotation of the screw shaft, considerable time is spent in varying the distance between the vise jaws to accommodate articles of different sizes.

According to this invention, an improved vise is provided whereby one of the vise jaws can be freely moved toward or away from the other vise jaw without rotating lthe screw shaft. In this manner, the vise of this invention can be quickly adjusted to receive a desired size article, and then the vise jaws can be subsequently tightened against the article by rotating the screw shaft in the conventional manner.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved vise.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved vise that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum of parts, and is durable and rugged,

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved vise having means to selectively vary the distance between the vise jaws thereof by a free sliding action between the parts thereof without requiring that the screw shaft be rotated to vary such distance.

Other objects, uses, and advantages are apparent from a. reading of this description and/or the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of an improved vise of this invention, certain of the parts thereof being shown in section.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the vise illustrated in FGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FlGURE 1 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FiGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device illustrated in FIGURE 3 and is taken on line 4-4 thereof.

FGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of certain of the parts of the device illustrated in FiGURE 3.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals are utilized throughout the various figures thereof to designate like parts where appropriate, and particular reference is made to FIG- URES l and 2 illustrating an improved vise of this invention that is generally indicated by the reference numer- 21110.

The vise 1li includes a screw shaft 11, a handle 12 for rotating the shaft 11, and a pair of vise jaws or members 13 and 14 carried by the shaft 11. The vise jaws 13 and 1d are adapted to receive an article 15 therebetween by pulling outwardly on a movable member 16 to permit free sliding of the shaft 11 and the jaw 13 toward the vise jaw 1d to clamp the article 15 between the jaws 13 and 14. Subsequently, the shaft 11 is rotated in a direction to draw the jaws 13 and 14 tightly against the article 15 whereby the article 15 is securely held by the vise 1li.

ln particular, the screw shaft 11 is provided with an enlarged bifurcated end 17, hereinafter referred to as the turning end, comprising two spaced legs 18 and 19 delining a slot 2i) therebetween. The substantially flat handle 12 has an end 21 received in the slot 2d of the shaft 11 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 and is pivotally secured to the legs V18 and 19 by a pin 22. In this manner, the shaft 11 may be rotated by the handle 12 regardless of the angular position of the handle 12 relative to the shaft 1-1.

Further, should the vise 10 be mounted so that the handle 12 can not be readily rotated through 360 when disposed at an angle relative to the shaft 11, the handle 12 can be moved through an arc of thereby rotating the shaft 11 through 180. Subsequently, the handle 12 can be pivoted in the slot 2li back to its original position to repeat the partial rotation of the shaft 11. Thus the vise 1@ may be mounted on a flat surface or the like without having the handle 12 extend beyond the edge thereof in the conventional vise mounting manner.

y The screw shaft 11 has a smooth cylindrical portion 23 adjacent the turning end 17 thereof and an externally threaded portion 24.

The vise jaw 13 has the general shape of a right angled parallele-piped and is substantially rectangular in crosssection and has a pair of opposed sides 25 and 26, the side 25 being suitably recessed by horizontally and vertically extending article holding grooves 27. A bore 28 passes longitudinally through the vise jaw 13 for receiving the shaft 11, the internal diameter of the bore 28 being slightly larger than the external diameter of the shaft 11 whereby the vise jaw 13 is freely axially moved on the shaft 11 and the shaft 11 is freely rotatable relative to the jaw 13.

A bushing 2.9 is disposed on the shaft 11 between the enlarged portion 17 thereof and the vise jaw 13 to provide a suitable bearing means therebetween.

The vise jaw 11i is substantially of the same size as jaw 13 and also has the same general shape of a right angled parallelepiped and is also substantially rectangular in cross-section and has a pair of opposed sides 30 and 31, the side 31 being provided with horizontally and vertically disposed article holding grooves 32 in the same manner -as the vise jaw 13. A bore 33 passes longitudinally through the vise jaw 14 in a manner similar to the bore 28, the bore 2S -being of a size to permit free axial movement of the jaw 14 on the shaft 11.

An opening 34 is also formed in the vise jaw 14, the opening internipting the side 30 there and angularly intersecting the Ibore 33. The opening 34 defines an angularly disposed surface 35 of the vise jaw 14.

The movable member 16 has a portion thereof disposed in the opening 34 of the vise jaw 14, themember 15 having a surface 36 disposed in sliding engagement with the surface 35 rof the jaw 14. The member 16 is provided with a threaded end or surface '37 adapted to be disposed in threaded or drivingrelation with the threaded portion 24 of the shaft 11.

Suitable means are provided for interconnecting the movable member 16 to the vise jaw 14 and for maintaining the threaded surface 37 thereof in driving relation with the shaft 11. In the embodiment illustrated. in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the movable member 16 is provided with an angularly disposed longitudinal slot 3S, the slot 38 being disposed parallel to the surfaces 36 and 35 of the-'member 16 and jaw 14 'respectively.

A horizontally disposed pin 39 is carried by the jaw 14 and passes transversely through the slot 38 to interconnect the movable member 16 to the vise jaw 14. A leaf spring 40 is detachably secured to the jaw 14 by a screw 41 and has the outer end 42 thereof disposed in a groove 43 formed in the movable member 16. In this manner the spring d@ maintains the member 1d in the position illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 1 whereby the vise jaw 14 is operatively interconnected to the shaft 11. Thus,

. upon rotation of the shaft 11, relative movement between 3 the vise jaw 14 and the shaft 11 is etected by the threaded driving relation thereof.

The movable member 16 is adapted to be moved out of engagement with the threaded portion 24 of the shaft 11V by grasping the free end 44 of the member 16 and pull-ing the same upwardly vto the position illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE l whereby the threaded surface 37 is out of engagement'with the shaft'11. In this manner, free sliding movement between the shaft 11 and vise jaw 14 is effected.

Y In order to facilitate grasping of the free end 44 of the member 16, suitable circular recesses d are formed in opposed sides 'of the member 16. j

As illustrated .in vFIGURE l, both vise jaws 13 and 14 are provided with semi-circular cut out portions 46 at opposite sides thereof, the cut out portions 46 deiining `flat mounting surfaces 47 having vertical bores 48 passing therethrough. In this manner either vise ja'w 13 or 14 Vis adapted to be mounted to a suitable support means, and, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE l, the vise 'jaw 14 is mounted to a bracket 49 by bolts 50; The bracket 49 is, Vin turn, detachably mounted to the edge of dat surface, such as a Work bench top 51. j v

Ihe operation of theI vise 1d illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 will now vbe described. When it is desired to move the v-ise jaw 13 toward the non-movable vise jaw 14 'in brder to clamp the work piece 15 therebetween, the movable member 16 is pulled outwardly to the positi'on illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 1 and the shaft 11 is moved to the right sliding freely in the bore 33 of the vise jaw 14. Since the bushing 2g engages the side 25 of the vise jaw 13, movement of the shaft 11 to thc right causes the vise jaw 13 to be carried therewith-` When the shaft 11 and jaw 13 have been moved the vdesired distance tb the right to abut the article 15 disposed between the jaws 13 and 14, the movable member 16 i's released and the spring 4t? returns the same into driving relation with the threaded portion 24 'of the shaft -11. Thereafter, the shaft 11 is `rotated by the handle 12 to cause the shaft 11 and thus the jaw 13 to be further moved to the right to securely clamp the article or work piece 15 between the jaws 13 and 14.

Similarly, should it be desired to increase the space between the jaws 13 and 14 to receive a relatively large article 15, the operator merely pulls the member 16 upwardly to disengage the same from the shaft 11 and pulls the jaw 13 to the left, the jaw carrying the shaft 11 therewith through the abutting relation of the jaw 13 with the bushing'29.` When the desired space between the jaws has been reached, the member 16 is released to .pern'ii't rotation of uthe shaft 11 to draw the jaw 13 toward the jaw 14.

While -it Yis not illustrated, it is to be understood that the jaw 13 could be mounted to the bracket 19 instead of theijaw 14 if desired.l AWith this arrangement, 'the jaw 14 canbe freely moved axially on the shaft 11 when the member 16 is pulled outwardly to disengage the same fointhe shaft 11.

In vthis latter arrangement where the Vjaw 13 is mounted to the bracket-49, the jaw 13 could be mounted to the shaft 11 in'a manner to prevent axial movement of the shaft 11 relative to the `vise jaw 13 while permitting Ithe shaft 11 to rotate relative to the vise jaw 13.- j j In particular, such a vise 19 is illustrated-in FIG- URES 3-5 wherein like reference numerals are utilized to designate similar parts o the vise 1t) previously described except that the like reference numerals are followed by aprirne mark. Y

The vise jaw 13 is tixed to the shaft 11' by a vertically disposed pin 52 lpassing through a bore 53 formed in the jaw 13', the pin 52 passing immediately above an aligned annular reduced portion 54 `ot the shaft 11. In this manner'the' `shaft 11 is prevented from being moved axially of the visek jaw 13 while still being rotatable relative thereto. As illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the vise jaw 13' is mouted to the bracket 49' by bolts 5S while the vise jaw 14' is movable relative to the shaft 11' and bracket 49.

The movable member 16 is interconnected to the vise jaw 14 in the same manner as previously described except that instead of the leaf spring 49, a coiled spring S6 is received in the slot 38 thereof. The spring 56 has one end thereof disposed in a recess 57 formed at the bottom of the slot 38 and the other end disposed in abutting engagement with the pin 39 carried by the vise jaw 1d. n j

The operation of the v-ise 1% illustrated in FIGURES 3-5 will now be described. When it is desired to decrease the space between the vise jaws 13 and 1d to clamp an article 15' therebetween, the movable member 16' is pulled upwardly to disengage the same from the threaded portion 24 of the shaft 11' whereby the jaw 14 can begfreely moved axially on the shaft 11 toward the jaw 13'. Similarly, the jaw 14 can be freely moved away fromV the jaw 13 until the desired distance between the jaws 13 and 14' has been reached.

Subsequently, the movable member 16 is released and the spring 56 returns the member 16 to the position illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 3 whereby the jaw 14 can be moved to and from the jaw 13 by rotating the shaft 11. Y

In either of the embodiments above described, rotation of the shaft 11 or 11 causes the member 16 or 16' to be moved downwardly into further engagement with the threaded portion 24 `or 24' of the shaft 11 or 11 when the jaw 14 or 1d' is being held from movement. This feature is accomplished by the wedging action produced between the surfaces 36 or 36 and 35 or 35 of the member 16 or 16' and jaw 14 or 14'.

Therefore, it can be seen that vises are provided that have means for rapidly and readily varying the distances between the vise jaw-s thereof without rotation of the screw shafts thereof. However, while the term v-ise has been utilized, it is to be understood that other holding devices can be made according to the teachings of this invention, such as lathe tool holders'and the like.

' It is to be understood that the vise jaw arrangement 14' of FIGURES 3-5 can be utilized with the vise jaw arrangement 13 of FIGURES 1 and 2, and the vise jaw arrangement 13 can be utilized with the vise jaw arrangement 1d isdc'sired.

Further, either vise jaw 13 or 14 or vise jaw 13 and 14 can be detachably and directly secured to a dat surface or support means by screws or ybolts 50 or 55 passing through openings d'7 in the respective member. For example, the particular vise jaw can be directly secured to a work bench, a drill press, table or other suitable support means without utilizing the intermediate bracket 49 or 49'.

It is also to be understood that the vise arrangements 19 and 10 or the various combinations thereof are also very useful when 'the same are not attached to a support means or the like. In particular, the ilat bottoms of the jaws 13, 1d, 13 and 14 can rest on any flat surface while the same hold an article therebetween. In this manner the article heid by the vise jaws can be held more firmly yby the vise even though the vise is merely resting on a 'dat surface or the like. For example, the unattached vise can be utilized to iir-mly hold a work piece on a drill press table.

While the form-s and embodiments now preferred have been disclosed in accordance with the statute, it is to be understood that other yforms and embodiments may be employed, all coming within the scope of the appended claim-s which follow.

What is claimed is:

l L A vise comprising a pair of aligned substantially equally sized vise jaws both of which have the general shape of a right angled panallelepiped, both having aligned and similar bores passing therethrough, one of said vise jaws having an opening adjacent one end of said vise and interconnected with said bore thereof, said opening having a wall defining a surface that angularly ntersects said Abore thereof, a rotatable shaft passing through said bores and having a turning end and a threaded portion, a movable member disposed in said opening and having a threaded surface at one of its ends adapted to threadedly engage said threaded portion of said shaft to permit driving movement between said one jaw and said shaft when said shaft is rotated and -said member is in a rst position relative to said one jaw, said member having a portion extending out of said one end of said vise adapted to be pulled out to permit free sliding movement between said one jaw and said shaft when said member is in a second position, said member having an elongated slot passing therethrough and angularly disposed relative to said shaft, said one vise jaw carrying a pin that extends transversely through said slot in said member whereby said pin controls angular movement of said member toward and away from `said shaft, and spring means carried by said vise and engaging said member to tend to urge said member toward said shaft.

2. A vise as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member v -said member toward said shaft when said one jaw is tended to be moved away `from said other vise jaw.

3. A vise as set forth in claim 1 wherein said portion has opposed recesses `for readily grasping said portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l14,366 Ogden Mar. 4, 1856 294,781 Hilts Mar. 11, 1884 305,989 Weiser Sept. 30, 1884 444,510 Tanner Jan. 13, 1891 742,647 Herriman Oct. 27, -3 788,716 Hammond et al. May 2, 1905 924,122 Williams June 8, 1909 1,209,658 Baltzley Dec. 26, 1916 1,372,661 Secord Mar. 22, 1921 1,411,578 Munger Apr. 4, 1922 1,423,774 Moore July 25, 1922 2,317,195 Husted Apr. 20, 1943 2,445,188 Sasgen July 13, 1948 2,758,492 Gowing Aug. 14, 1956 

1. A VISE COMPRISING A PAIR OF ALIGNED SUBSTANTIALLY EQUALLY SIZED VISE JAWS BOTH OF WHICH HAVE THE GENERAL SHAPE OF A RIGHT ANGLED PARALLELEPIPED, BOTH HAVING ALIGNED AND SIMILAR BORES PASSING THERETHROUGH, ONE OF SAID VISE JAWS HAVING AN OPENING ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID VISE AND INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID BORE THEREOF, SAID OPENING HAVING A WALL DEFINING A SURFACE THAT ANGULARLY INTERSECTS SAID BORE THEREOF, A ROTATABLE SHAFT PASSING THROUGH SAID BORES AND HAVING A TURNING END AND A THREADED PORTION, A MOVABLE MEMBER DISPOSED IN SAID OPENING AND HAVING A THREADED SURFACE AT ONE OF ITS ENDS ADAPTED TO THREADEDLY ENGAGE SAID THREADED PORTION OF SAID SHAFT TO PERMIT DRIVING MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID ONE JAW AND SAID SHAFT WHEN SAID SHAFT IS ROTATED AND SAID MEMBER IS IN A FIRST POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID ONE JAW, SAID MEMBER HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING OUT OF SAID ONE END OF SAID VISE ADAPTED TO BE PULLED OUT TO PERMIT FREE SLIDING MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID ONE JAW AND SAID SHAFT WHEN SAID MEMBER IS IN A SECOND POSITION, SAID MEMBER HAVING AN ELONGATED SLOT PASSING THERETHROUGH AND ANGULARLY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT, SAID ONE VISE JAW CARRYING A PIN THAT EXTENDS TRANSVERSELY THROUGH SAID SLOT IN SAID MEMBER WHEREBY SAID PIN CONTROLS ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBER TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SHAFT, AND SPRING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID VISE AND ENGAGING SAID MEMBER TO TEND TO URGE SAID MEMBER TOWARD SAID SHAFT. 